Abby update - January 20

Today's big news was that Abby attended her first violin lesson since the accident! She participated in some of Paula Bird's group classes for beginning students. I couldn't help but have some mixed emotions--after all, last September Abby was in Paula's most advanced group--but Abby helps me get the right perspective. She seemed so glad to be there and in general seems very proud that she can still play her violin. In addition, the simple motor skills that Paula asks of these beginning students are so good for Abby's recovery at this point. Thanks to everyone in Wildflower Suzuki Studio who has been pulling for Abby. *And here's a word of advice for you advanced students: It was always hard to keep practicing the early songs in the Suzuki repertoire when so much time needed to be spent on the newer, more difficult ones, but now I'm so glad that Abby committed those early songs to memory and kept practicing them. Because the memories were strong in her brain, her fingers, hands, and arms now have the chance to rebuild their capabilities.

Speaking of what the brain can do, one of the patients that we met at St. David's on Friday indirectly gave us some reassurance that we were in the right place. He suffered a stroke in 2005 soon after running the Chicago Marathon and has fought his way back to being able to run a 5K race in 2006; however, I was most impressed with his insights regarding cognitive therapy and recovery. He expressed a lot of confidence in the speech therapist he has worked with at St. David's--the same one that Abby will be seeing. Once again, the personal stories of struggle and triumph are the greatest encouragement for us.

God bless you all,
Lee Ann, Gordon, Abby & Frank